Safety device for firearms



March 8, 1938.

E. ALTENBURGER 2,110,317

SAFETY DEVICE FOR FIREARMS Filed Aug. 2o, 1955 4 sheets-sheet 1 SIMMMarch 8, 1938. -E. ALTENBURGER SAFETY DEVICE FOR FIREAMS Filed Aug. 20,1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 8, 1938. E. ALTENBURGER SAFETYDEVICE FORFIREARMS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed'Aug. 20, 1935 March 8, 1938. E.ALTI-:NBURGr-:R 2,110,317

SAFETY DEVICE FOR FIREARMS Filed Aug. 20, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ry ZPatented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE SAFETY DEVICE FortFIREARMS l Ernst Altenburger, Oberndorf-on-,the-Neokar, Germany,assignor to MauserWerke A.G., Oberndorifon-the-Neckar,V Germany, ajointstock company of Germany Application August 20, 19,35, Serial No.37,093

Germany August 20, 1934 12 claims. (o1. L12- 70) 'Ip-his inventionrelates to a safety device for the lowered hammer against cooking, butdoes re arms, and more particularly to a locking bolt not lock thecocked hammer against lowering. for the firing pin of a pistol, a safetydevice, esperi'he cocked hammer must be lowered from the cially forpistols having a hammer and a trigger, trigger after the'locking bolt ofthe pistol has and to means connected to the hammer for prebeenoperated, i. e., the hammer is lowered by an 5 venting the access ofdust and dirt to the interior extra manipulation, and the operator isnot of the pistol. startled.

Safety devices for the firing pin are old in Another feature of theinvention is thatalockwhich the pin is shifted axially for moving itbeingV pawl is pivoted on the hammer and cooperyond reach of the hammer,or a check is provided ates with a spring catch. This catch iscontrolled 10 for intercepting the hammer before it strikes the by thesafety device so as to allow the cocked firing pin. hammer to belowered, and, in turn, controls the These old devices are departed fromaccording locking pawlY to which it presents an abutment. to theinvention, by separating the paths of the Preferably, v'the safetyYdevice is a rotary bolt firing pin and the member which strikes orrewhich when the arm is placed at safety, moves l5 leases the pin, i.e., by not only moving the pin the firing pin beyond the reach of thehammer. beyond reach of the member, but also beyond the Further featuresand details of the invention direction the member moves in. This iseffected appear from the following specication and by moving the axis ofthe pin out of the position drawings showing a safety device by way ofexit occupies when the pistol is set at firing. By ample.`A 20 thesemeans, when the pistol, or arm, is at safe- According to another featureof the invention, ty, the firing pin and the member are so far apart thehammer, during its striking movement for that unintentional nring byshoeksor thelike, is nring a cartridge, not only Closes the cas-ing ofabsolutely prevented. the pistol for a certain distance, as in oldstruc- Other features of the invention will appear tures, but the hammeriS equipped With an @X- 25 from the following specication, the drawingsand tension Opposite its Striking face. and a cooking the claims. t lugon the extension. The extension occupies an The second safety devicecomprises means for opening in the casing which completelyencloseslowering the hammer, and for arresting the hamthe hammer, andthe opening is closed by the exmer when the arm is at safety. tension inthe cocked anduncocked positions of 30 Safety devices are old in whichthe hammer the hammer. By means of suitable bridges `at the can belowered while the arm is at safety, but in Casing, the Opening for `themovement of the such devices the hammer can not be arrested. hammerWhich Was .exposed heretofore, iS 110W On the other hand, a safetydevice for pistols has closed against dust and sand.

already been proposed in which the hammer is According to anotherfeature 0f the invention, 35 t lowered upon operation of the safety boltfor the the eXtonSoIl 0f the hammer iS Dart 0f o Circle ring pin, butagain the hammer is not arrested about the pvot 0f the hammer, and movesin a in its lowered position. The last-mentioned degroot/'o adjacent theopening, So that only the vice is unsatisfactory because the setting atsafe- Cooking 111g Projects from the Casing.

40 ty, on the one hand, and the automatic lowering ln automatic Pistolsfork which the improve- 40 of the hammer (which is under tension andmont iS -Drrlollaly designed, the .opening for strikes a check placedbefore the firing pin, or a the hammer ,extension iS bordered at one.end by similar part) on the other hand, are two operaa bridge at thebreech, and at the other end by a tions which are normally supposed toexclude one bridge atv the stock. The bridge at the breech is another.The impression that the arm will be at the outer side of the arc-shapedhammer ex- 45 fired, is invariably connected with the striking tension,and the bridge at the stock is at .the of the hammer but if the hammeris lowered and inner side of the extension. The two bridges and strikeswhile the pistol is at safety, this may the arc-shaped extension make upa perfectly cause the operator to start. Lastly, a pistol tight closureof `the casing in all positions of the equipped with such a safetydevice cannot be hammer. 50

carried in the pocket when cocked. Other details and Vfeatures of theinvention will The pistol according to the invention is disappear fromthe following specification, the drawtnguished from the known art by alocking pawl ings, and the claims. which is under the control of thesafety bolt of The drawings illustrate, by way of example, a

the pistol and, when the pistol is at safety, locks pistol equipped'witha hammer and a trigger. 55,

Figs. 1-5 show the safety vdevice for the ring pin, Figs, 6-8 show thedevice for lowering and arresting the hammer, and Fig. 9 shows thehammer protected against dust.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section showing the pistol at safety,

Fig. 2 is a similar section showing the breech moving into firingposition, and the spring catch disengaged from the hammer.

Fig. 3 is a similar section showing the lowering of the hammer while thepistol is at safety.

Figs. 4 and 5, respectively, illustrate the rotary safety bolt, and thespring catch of which Figs. 4a, 4b and 4c are sections taken on linesE-F, A-B and C--D respectively of Fig. 4 and Fig. 5a is a section takenon line V-V of Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of a pistol whose hammer and springcatch are in uncooked position.

Fig. 7 is a similar section showing the pistol at safety, and the hammerand the spring catch in the position in which the spring catch is thrownout and the hammer is operated by the trigger.

Fig. 8 is a section of the casing, viewed from the front end of thepistol and showing the position of the locking pawl with respect tothehammer and the casing.

Fig. 9 shows the pistol with the specially designed hammer inlongitudinal section.

The safety device for the firing pin is designed as follows:

Two shoulders I and 2 for supporting the firing pin 3 on the rotarysafety bolt 4 (Figs. 1 and 2. and section A-B in Fig. 4b) rock thestriking pin 3 beyond reach of the hammer or striking member 5 when thesafety bolt has been turned through 90. At the same time, a flange 6 onthe firing pin is moved into a corresponding notch 'I in the bore of thebreech, for holding the firing pin against movement.

When the locking bolt is at safety, the hammer 5 cannot be cocked bypressing the trigger, or by handling the hammer, since the front arm 8of the spring catch 9 is engaged and arrested by the safety bolt.

VVithout eXtra provision at the safety device of the pistol, it couldnot be loaded when at safety. However, the hammer which was locked bythe spring catch, is released by retracting the breech for a shortdistance to move the safety bolt clear of the arm 8.

The hammer which has now become free again, is arrested after the breechhas been fully retracted into cooking position, until the safety bolt 4on the breech which now returns into ring position, engages the end ofthe rear arm Ill of the spring catch 9 thereby moving the spring catch 9clear for the length :r of its abutment, and the hammer, under thepressure of its spring, fully throws out the spring catch 9 through aninclined face Il connected to its tooth. The hammer follows the breech,but there is no danger in this movement, and finally it is locked, asdescribed by the arm 8 of the spring catch engaging the safety bolt 4.

When the safety device is unbolted, the arms 8 and I of the spring catch9 move freely through recesses in the rotary locking bolt 4. (Fig. 4c

Means are provided for uncocking the cocked hammer `while the pistol isat safety. Such means are very simple and do not involve extra membersbetween the safety bolt and the spring catch. Just before the movementinto safety position has been completed, and the firing pin has beenmoved out 'o'f the way of lthe hammer, a cam I2 (Figs. 3 and 4) at thebolt 4 strikes a lug I3 of the spring catch and thereby breaks thelocking engagement of the catch 9 and the cocked hammer 5, so that nowthe hammer can return into its uncooked position without risk.

'I'he pistol illustrated in Figs. 6-8 is designed as follows:

The hammer is mounted to pivot in the stock I5 of the pistol on a boltI4. It cooperates with a spring catch I'I fulcrumed at I6. The springcatch has an abutment I8 which is engaged by a tooth I9 on the hammer 5when the hammer is moved into cooking position by hand or by thereturning breech. A spring 20 tends to hold the spring catch II engagedwith the hammer. An arm 2I on the spring catch Il cooperates with therotary safety bolt 4 for the firing pin 3, and, when the ring pin is atsafety, the arm 2| is engaged by the bolt 4 and limits the oscillationof the spring catch I1 (Fig. '7) while when the firing pin 3 isunbolted, the arm 2I freely enters a notch 22 in the safety bolt (Fig.6).

A pawl 23 is fulcrumed on one side of the hammer 5 at 24. A pin 25 atthe free end of the pawl engages in a hole 26 of the hammer whose insidediameter is larger than the outside diameter of the pin 25, and theoscillation of the pawl 23 is limited by the hole 25. The pawl 23 isinserted together with the hammer and is held in position by the wall atone side of the casing I5 (Fig. 8). The pawl 23 has a lug 21 whichcooperates with a second abutment 28 at the lower side of the springcatch I l, as will now be described:

(a) Pistol set at firing Obviously, when the pistol is set at firing,the pawl 23 at the hammer must be inactive. Therefore, when the hammer 5is cocked by hand, or by the trigger, the pawl 2k3 is turned about itspivot 24 toward the outerV side (anti-clockwise) by the spring catch I1whose second abutment 28 is engaged by the pawl, until the pin 25 bearsagainst one side of the hole 26. When the hammer is moved further towardits cooking position, the pawl 23 turns the springV catch I'I clockwiseabout its pivot I5. Finally, after its pivot 24 has been sufiicientlydisplaced with respect to the position of the point where the pawl 23engages the spring catch, the pawl moves back for some distance into thehammer so that it clears the spring catch I TI. The hammer which iscocked by hand or by the trigger when the pistol is set at firing, isfree to move into firing position. The pawl 23 moves back into thehammer as far as the hole 26 allows the pin 25 to move. The spring catchI 'I is also moved beyond the path of the pawl 23 for some distance, andits arm 2l partly enters the notch 22 in the safety bolt 4.

(b) Setting at safety with hammer in cocked position An importantfeature of the invention is the idea that the hammer must not beinfluenced by the operation of the safety device, in the presentinstance, the rotary safety bolt 4, in such manner that it isautomatically lowered when the safety device is operated; on thecontrary: The hammer is lowered from its cocked position only byoperating the trigger, for the reasons stated above, while the pistol isat safety. The cocked pistol must be in such condition that it can becarried while at safety.

To this end, the spring catch I'I has a certain play for which it can becscillated when the safety bolt is in its active position. This play isjust such that the spring catch can be moved to become disengaged fromthe hammer, by the trigger, and the lug 21 of the pawl 23 which movesinwardly as far as possible, clears the spring catch. As the firing pin3 has been moved beyond the path of the hammer by the rotary safety bolt4, the hammer, if it strikes, cannot fire a cartridge.

(c) Arrestz'ng the uncooked hammer when pistol is at safety Anotherobject of thev invention is to provide a safety device by which theuncooked hammer is arrested upon operation of the safety device. Theuncooked hammer is arrested with the pistol at safety by, on the onehand, positioning the point of attack of the second abutment 28 of thespring catch l1 with respect to the pivot 24 of the pawl 23, so that thespring catch I1 turnsI the pawl 23 in outward direction andanti-clockwise when it is attempted to cock the hammer, and, on theother hand, by the spring catch I1 engaging the perimeter of the rotarybolt 4 with its arm 2l after having been rocked for a short distance bythe hammer. The spring catch is now arrested by the safety bolt andthereby becomes an abutment for the pawl 23 on the hammer, preventingany further movement of the hammer in cooking direction.

If it is attempted to pull the trigger when the hammer is uncooked, itwill be found that the trigger does not move since the hammer has beenarrested. 'Ihe operator immediately notices that the pistol has been setat safety. The pistol can only be cocked and red after having been set`at i'lrng. Unintentional or unvoluntary manipulations which may causeerrors and accidents, are practically eliminated by the describedmechanism.

The design of the hammer according to Fig. 9 is as follows:

The hammer has an arcuate extension 29, with a cooking lug 30 at itsfree end. Sealing bridges 3l and 32 are arranged, respectively, at thebreech and at the stock. The uncooked position of the hammer is shown infull, and its cocked position is shown in dotted lines.

In both positions of the hammer 5, the mechanism is effectively sealedagainst sand and dust by the bridges 3l and 32 engaging the outer andthe inner side, respectively, of the arcuate hammer extension 29. Thehammer extension also closes completely the opening provided for themovement of the hammer, without interfering with its cooking anduncocking by the lug 30 projecting from the pistol.

I claim:

1. A safety device for i'lre arms comprising a striking member, a firingpin adapted to be moved beyond reach of the striking member bydisplacement relative to its axis, and means surrounding the ring pinand having a recess therein which is engaged by a part of the firing pinin its displaced position to hold the firing pin against axial movement.

2. A safety device according to claim l, in which a safety bolt isprovided which is rotatably mounted and engages the rear end of thefiring pin and by its rotation is adapted to move the ring pin.

3. A safety device for re arms comprising a striking member having atooth thereon, a firing pin, a safety bolt rotatably mounted andengaging the rear end of the firing pin and by its rotation is adaptedto displace the rear end of the firing pin relative to its axis beyondreach of the striking member, and a spring catch having a front arm forcooperation with the safety bolt when the bolt is at safety and having atooth thereon to contact with the tooth on the striking member toprevent movement of the striking member.

4. A safety device according to claim 3, in which the spring catch alsohas a rear arm adapted to be depressed and rocked with the catch untilthe tooth disengages, said rear arm being operated by the safety bolt ashort time after a breech of the firearm has started returning from itsfully retracted position sothat the striking member can follow theadvancing breech.

5. A safety device according to claim 3, in which the striking member isprovided with an inclined face in cooperation with the tooth, and inwhich the spring catch is provided with an abutment the edge of whichbeing placed adjacent the inclined face after the spring catch has beenlocked by the safety bolt moving forward with the breech, theinclinedface being so positioned with respect to the edge of theabutment that the striking member under pressure of its spring effectsthe complete disengagement of the tooth from the abutment.

6. A safety device according to claim 1, in which an arm is providedadjacent a spring catch, and a looking bolt having a cam is provided fordirect transmission an action causing cooking of the spring catch anduncocking the striking member from the bolt in its safety position to`the firing position.

7. A pistol comprising a striking member, a trigger, a safety member, apawl between the safety member and the striking member and controlled bythe safety member, and means whereby the pawl exclusively locks. againstcooking of the striking member when the pistol is set for safety andunlocked against uncocking the striking member.

8. A pistol according to claim 7, in which a spring catch is providedwhereby the pawl is controlled from the safety member by the springcatch which is influenced to permit uncocking of the cocked strikingmember when the safety member is at safety and the spring catch being acontrolling member and an abutment for the pawl.

9. A pistol comprising a striking member, a trigger, a safety member, apawl between the safety member and the striking member and controlled bythe safety member, said pawl having means for exclusively lockingagainst cooking of the striking member when the pistol is set for safetyand unlocked against uncocking the striking member, a spring catchwhereby the pawl is controlled from the safety member by the springcatch which is influenced to permit uncocking of the cocked strikingmember when the safety member is at safety and the spring catch being acontrolling member and an abutment for the pawl, and two checks betweenwhich the pawl is free to pivot on the striking member.

10. A pistol comprising a striking member provided with an extension anda lug on the extension on that part of the striking member which isopposite to the striking face, a trigger, a safety member, and a pawlbetween the safety member and the striking member and controlled by thesafety member, said pawl exclusively locking against cooking of thestriking member when the pistol is. set for safety and unlocked againstuncocking the striking member.

11. A pistol comprising a striking member provided With an extension anda lug on the extension on that part of the striking member which isopposite to the striking face, said extension being arcuate in shape andthe lug projecting from a casing of the pistol, a trigger, a safetymember, and a paWl between the safety member and the striking member andcontrolled by the safety member, said pawl exclusively locking againstcooking of the striking member when the pistol is set for safety andunlocked against unoocking the striking member.

12. A pistol comprising a striking member provided with an extension andalug on the extension on that part of the striking member which isopposite to the striking face, a safety member, a pawl between thesafety member and the striking member and controlled by the safetymember, said paWl exclusively locking against cooking of the strikingmember when the pistol is set for safety and unlocked against uncockingthe striking member, and a pair of bridge members on a casing for thepistol to seal the casing around and in the path of movement of saidextension.

ERNST ALTENBURGER.

